I finally saw photos & video of the devastating earthquake in Haiti and couldn’t hold back my tears. I’m sure we would all like to help so I’ve put together a few links to make it a bit easier.
Our good friend and artist we love Samira Idroos is donating a portrait painting. Basically she will paint a portrait of your choice & donate the money to yele.org, Wyclef’s relief organization. The bids start at $500. Take a look at Samira’s beautiful work at her site http://samiraidroos.com and reach her via Twitter @samiraidroos.

Texting donations is quite easy and practical. Here are a few ways:
- Donate $5 by texting YELE to 501501 or at www.yele.org
- Text the word HAITI to the number 90999 to donate $10 to Red Cross relief efforts or donate online at RedCross.org. The US Red Cross has already raised $800,00 and pledged $1Million to the cause.
- Canadians can donate through text messages via the Salvation Army by texting the word “Haiti” to 45678 for donations of $5.
- Haitian information sharing & communication http://twitter.com/nprnews/haiti-earthquake
- US Citizens attempting to locate loved ones in Haiti, please contact the State Department’s American Citizen Services line at 1-888-407-4747.
- Message board for locating friends & family http://www.koneksyon.com/
New York Times has created a list of local organizations who are gathering supplies, donations & funds for relief efforts in Haiti.
The following suggestions come via the Miami Herald:
• Doctors Without Borders is asking for donations to help the emergency response teams in Haiti. Donate with a debit or credit card at https://donate.doctorswithoutborders.org.
• UNICEF is seeking donations to the ongoing emergency relief efforts in Haiti and the Caribbean region through www.unicefusa.org/haitiquake or call 1-800-4UNICEF.
• Mercy Corps established a Haiti Earthquake Fund, PO Box 2669,Portland, OR 97208, www.mercycorps.org, 1-888-256-1900
•Project Medishare, Miami, brings medical care to northeast Haiti. Make a donation at projectmedishare.org; 305-762-6448.
•Hope for Haiti, Naples, Fla., is an education and relief charity that will send supplies by private plane. Donate at hopeforhaiti.com; 239-434-7183.
• The Salvation Army, a Christian nonprofit, has been operating in Haiti since 1950, with schools, medical facilities, schools, feeding and economic development programs. Donate to its disaster relief fund at salvationarmyusa.org; 1-800-SAL-ARMY.
•Missing people: U.S. citizens wondering about family in Haiti can ring the U.S. State Department’s American Citizen Services line at 1-888-407-4747.